Method of treating metabolic disorders and depression with dopamine receptor agonists

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and formulations for treating metabolic disorders and depression. In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering a dopamine receptor agonist and an anti-depressant.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. The method of treating a patient afflicted with type 2 diabetes and depression that is taking a serotonin enhancing anti-depressant comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of one or more dopamine receptor agonists daily at a first pre-determined time of day in the morning. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined time of day is between 0400 and 1200 hoursin the morning. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pre-determined time of day is upon waking. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dopamine receptor agonist is at least one of a dopamine D1 receptor agonist or a dopamine D2 receptor agonist. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dopamine receptor agonist is an ergot-related compound. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the dopamine receptor agonist is selected from the group consisting of lisuride, terguride, dihydroergotoxine (hydergine), and bromocriptine. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the dopamine receptor agonist is bromocriptine. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 4  wherein the dopamine receptor agonist is a dopamine D1 receptor agonist. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 4  wherein the dopamine receptor agonist is a dopamine D2 receptor agonist. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein the therapeutically effective amount is between about 0.01 to about 50.0 mg/kg. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the therapeutically effective amount is between about 0.1 to about 25.0 mg/kg. 
     
     
       12. The method of treating a patient afflicted with type-2 diabetes and depression that is taking a serotonin enhancing anti-depressant comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a D1 dopamine receptor agonist and a D2 dopamine receptor agonist once daily at a predetermined time for bioavailability in the morning and at a point after the peak in plasma prolactin level. 
     
     
       13. A method of treating a patient suffering from pre-diabetes and depression that is taking a serotonin enhancing anti-depressant comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of one or more dopamine receptor agonists daily at a first pre-determined time of day in the morning. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein the pre-determined time of day is between 0400 and 1200 hours in the morning. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13  wherein the predetermined time of day is within 2 hours of waking.